Material attenuation



Feb. 2, 1932. M. E. EVANS MATERIAL ATTBNUATION Filed Oct. 31 1921 I5 Sheets-Sheet m 'IZXTOR.

o o o 7 8 a 3 3 3 5 4 o l M,

O 3 6 v a Z .1 f 3 I A O H' I' 0 [ill 0 i o I a 1 WW 9 t 2 o H dllllllll|dl|lll M9 w fl Feb. 2, 1932. EVANS 1,843,666

MATERIAL ATTENUAT I ON Filed Oct. 31, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEX TO R.

Feb. 2, 1932. M. E. EVANS MATERIAL ATTENUATION Patented Feb. 2, 1932 Ass MARTIN nnvan S, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS MATERIAL ATTENUAT'ION Application filed October 31, 1921. Serial No. 511,950.

explanation, the following description and the accompanying drawings are directed principally to metal'w-ire drawing. The invention, however, Will lend itself to other uses especially to hot rod rolling.

In the art of wire drawing, it is customary to mount a drawing drum or block and a die or draw plate adjacent to it so that the drum will draw the wire through the die. At the beginning of the operation, the roll of wire being positioned on a reel, the end of the wire.

is pointed, passed by hand through the die, secured to the drum and the drum rotated. \Vhen all the wire on the reel has been drawn through the die it is removed from the drum on which it has accumulated, again placed upon a reel, and .the operation repeated with a smaller die. By repetitions of this operation the wire is drawn to the desired fineness.

It is evident that for each drawing operation on the wire considerable manipulation and handling is required. To lessen this condition, continuous wire drawing is resorted to wherein a series of drums and dies act on the one wire in succession. This obviates the handling of the wire bundles, but other problems arise, for wire does not lengthen uniformly in its passage through the dies. Provision must therefore be made for a variable accumulation of wire between each drawing operation so that variations in the lengthening of the wire may be compensated.

The wire is usually accumulated by coiling on a drum as it comes from a preceding die from which drum the wire is taken off to sup ply the next die and drum. Certain forces are created by the coiling of the wire which must be controlled, such as the u'ncoiling tendency of the wire and the centrifugal action caused by rotating the coil of the wire.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide for the variable accumulation and removal of material, in which the imposition of a tension on the material is obviated or lessened; to control the removal of the material in accordance with the longitudinal movement or travel of the wire removed; further the invention lends itself to the conversion-of a single operation draw block into a continuous or multiple drawing operation. A further object of the invention is to obviate or lessen the formation of twists in the material incident to its removal from the accumulator. A safety arrangement is provided for stopping the machine in case-of accident. It will be seen that the invention contemplates a construction which may be readily applied to or used in conjunction with existing drawing blocks and dies. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following'des'cription.

in carrying out my invention, I provide an accumulator in connection with a drawing 'drum, and also a take-ofi' means associated with such accumulator. In certain embodiments of the invention, hereinafter described,

the-take-off means is rotatably mounted on the. accumulator and interconnected therewith by a rack and pinion, in this embodiment friction rolls are associated with the pinion for contacting the material being re moved to control the speed of the take-0E means. In another embodiment a variable drive is provided for the take-off means whereby the take-off means is positively actuated without respect to the forces developed in the coiled material.

In the accompanying drawings: I

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of multiple die block.

Fig. 5 is an end view of die block shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away of a modified form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation, with parts broken away, of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, and taken at right angles to Fig. 6.

Fig. 13 is a detail View of a die block which may be employed in connection with the appa- Y ratus shown in Fig. 11. e

Fig. 14 is a sectional viewshowing the ap plication of means for rolling the material.

- In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, there is provided the die block 1 and a drawing drum 2 therefor. The die block V is adjust-ably securedon a base 3, the drawing drum 2 being rotatably mounted upon the same base. The drum is adapted to be driven by friction or bevel gears 4 and 5. The gear 4 being secured to the drum. The gear 5 is loosely mounted pn a shaft 6 driven from any suitable source of power through a pulley 7. A clutch 8, functions to lock the gear 5 to the shaft. The clutch 8 is controlled through an arm 9 by a safety lever 10. The

lever 10 is so located relative to the device that if a workman is accidently caught by 1 the wire the lever will be thrown, thus disenthat usually employed in a single wire drawgaging the clutch and stopping the machine.

The drawing drum 2 is supported on a bearing 11 formed in the basev 3. A hollow shaft 12-extends from the drum through the bearing and is locked in place therein by the set screw 13.

The structure so far described is similar to ing operation and any conventional wire drawing structures may be substituted therefore, as the additional elements of my' invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 10 and hereinafter found in the usual drawing drum'structuref Rotatably 'mounted on the accumulator 15 is a second or take-off drum 17. The drum 17 is centered on the accumulator 15 by a circular rack 18 carried by the accumulator'15. A horizontal shaft 19 extends through'the drum 17 and carries a pinion 20 which is maintained in mesh with the rack 18. A locking clip 21, is carried by the shaft 19 and engages the underside of the rack 18 to securely interlock the accumulator 15 and the drum 17. The clip is maintained in looking position by the coil spring 22' carried by the shaft 19. The arrangement being such that the drum 17 may be removed from the accumulator 15 when desired by releasing the locking clip. The shaft 19 also carries the rolls 23 and 24'. Roll 23 being secured externally of the drum on a projecting end of the shaft while the roll 24 is mounted on'the shaft adj aoent an internal vertical web 25 which extends transversely across the drum. Also mounted on the exterior of the drum 17 and in contact with the r01! 23 is roll 26, and mounted on the web 25 in contact with the roll 24 is another roll 27. The rolls 23 and 26 as well as the rolls 24 and 27 are in sufficiently close contact to grip any wire passing between them so that any rotation of the rolls aids the movement of the wire.

The web 25 extends above the take-off drum 17 in a semicircular form and along the periphery of this extension is mounted a series of rolls 28. The arrangement is such that the rollslie in an axial plane with respect to the take-off drum. Extending for about a quarter turn of the take-off drum is another series of rolls 29. These rolls 29 lie along a curve on the exterior of the take-ofi' drumfrom the roll 26 up to the first roll 28 of the series so as gradually to change the direction of the wire in contact with them from a substantially horizontal direction to a vertical direction. The rolls 28 maybe employed to direct a contacting wire to an internally mounted roll 30 from which the wire passes between the internally mounted rolls 24 and 27 above described. From the rolls 24 and 27 the wire passes through the hollow shaft 12 and may thence pass around the several guide pulleys 31, 32, 33, and 34 which direct the wire back to the die blo zk 1 through which the wire may again be drawn.

Instead of directing the Wire interiorly of the drum as above described the wire may be returned to the die block exteriorly of the drun When the wire is to be returned exterior-ly of the drum a structure 35 is provided which is secured to a bracket 36 extending from the base 3. A curved bar 37 extends upwardly from and is pivotly mounted on the structure 35 as shown at 38. A downwardly extending end 39 of the curved bar 37 terminates approximately in axial relation to the take-off drum 17. Pivotly carried by the end 39 is a lever 41 forked atone end as shown at 42. The lever is provided with a hand grip 43while a tension spring 44 maintains the lever in position shown in Fig. 1 in which the forks of the lever inclose the bar 45 carried by the web member 25. A

rod 46 passes through the end of the fork of the lever 41 to prevent disengagement.

The bar 45 carries a table member 47 adapt ed tobe engaged by the forked end of the lever 41. When the lever 41 is actuated the take-ofi' drum 1'? and the. accumulator are lifted thereby and may be swung to one side and any collected wireremoved from the accumulator 15. I V a The upper end of the bar 45 carries a guide roll 18 while the series ,of guide rolls 19are carried by the curved bar member 37 and a second series of guide rolls 50 are carried by the structure 35 which rolls function to guide the wire back to the die block 1. When this exterior structure is used the wire does not pass interiorly of the take-oft drum and accumulator.

Describing now the operation ofythe embodimentdisclosed inFig. 1. The wirefrom any suitable reel is initially pointed, passed through a suitable lubricant, threaded through the die and secured in any suitable manner to the drawing drum 2. The drum 2 is driven through the shaft 6. clutch 8, and gears 4 and 5. As the wire is drawn through the die the successive coils of wire on the drum 2 forces the wire upwardly onto the accumulator 15. When a sufficient number of coils have accumulated to grip the drum and form a drawing traction. the initial end of the wire may be released from the drum and passed between the rolls 23 and 26 which hold, the wire from uncoiling. The accumulator 15 has suflicient capacity to take care of a full reel of wire.

Instead of the usual practice of permitting a full reel of wire to accumulate and then in bodily removing the wire for a complete repetition of the drawing process, with the device here shown the wire may be led between the friction rolls 2?; and 2G and as it moves between these rolls it is guided by the rolls 29 into a direction axially of the takeofi drum. directed, as above described, back to the die block either interiorly or exteriorly of the takeoff drum. The initial end of the wire so directed back to the die block may be secured to the tail end of the wire, which has passed through the die. and thus be. drawn through a succeeding die. In this manner a continuous drawing operation is secured with a single drawing drum.

So long as there is no removal of wire from the accumulator 15 the wire coils will collect thereon. When the wire has so collected on the accumulator and it is desired to begin the succeeding drawing operation on the wire, the'initial end of the wire isretur ned to the die" block as above described. As the wire is again drawn through the df'e, the take-off drum 1'? will rotate in a direction contrary to the rotation of the accumulator, or lag behind the latter, so that the coils of wire will be successively lifted from the accumulator, and the wire will pass over the guiding rolls to the die as required. In other words. the speed of rotation of the take-off drum is independent of that of the accumulator and in From the rol s 29 the wire can be efiect' a differential action is secured between the accumulator and the take-0d drum.

The removal of the wire coils'w'ill' only occur when there is'a longitudinal movement of the wire over the guiding rolls. As long as there is no longitudinal movement of the wire the take-off drum 17 will rotate in unison with the accumulator 15. This being largely due to the frictional grip of the rolls 23 and 26 upon the wire which rolls are prevented from rotation by contact with the temporarily motionless wire and thepinion 20 is thus held from rotation on the rack 18.

When the wire is given a longitudinal movement, the rolls rotate to turn the pinion 20 and-, so cause a counter rotation of the takeoff drum 17 This counter rotation of the take-off drum is aided somewhat by the un-, coiling and centrifugal forces in the wire coils collected on the accumulator 15.

It will thus be seen that the rack 18 and pinion 20 together with the'wire passing between rolls 28 and 26 constitutes a sort of lock which causes the take-01f drum to rotate with the accumulator and which lockis released by longitudinal movement of the wire.

I If this locking arrangement were not provided it is apparent that the uncoiling tendency of the wire on the accumulator would spin the take-off drum around upon the accumulator until the uncoiling and centrifugal forces of the wire were expended. However with the arrangement shown it will be seen that the rolls 23 and 26 lock the pinion 20 to the rack 18 so long as there is no longitudinal movement of the wire. It will thus be seen that the speed of removal of the wire from the accumulator is entirely independent of the speed at which the wire is collected upon the accumulator. I

' In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 to 10 of the drawings a slightly different form of take-off device is disclosed. The base, die block, drawing drum, and ac-. cumulator are the same-as those shown in Fig. 1. The principal feature of this embodiment is the provision of a construction by which the wire may be taken off tangentially thus I avoiding any-twist-in the wire. "This t-angential take-off of the'materialrequires areversal in the direction of movement of the. materialif the speed of removal of'the material is permitted to vary with respect to the speed of accumulation.

To this end areversing drum 51 is concentrlcally mounted on theacc'umulator 15. The

drum51 carries a pinion 52'which meshes The roll 57being secured to a shaft 59iwhich 65 to be noted that the guide rolls 64 are so pocarries a pinion .60 and a spring latch 61 similar to the latch 53. The two shafts 56 and 59 are carried by a Web member 63 which extends transversely across the drum 51. A belt 62 connects the two shafts interiorly of the drum. A series of guide rolls 6% are arranged on the exterior of the drum 51 and function to gradually reverse the direction of the wire. 7

A take-ofi drum 17 is concentrically mounted on the reversing drum 51 and carries a depending rack 65 with which the pinion 60 is adapted to mesh, the latch 61 functions to interlock the take-oft drum 17 and reversing drum 51. A structure 66 similar to the structure 35 is secured to the base. A curved b'ar structure 69 is carried by ythe structure 66. When the wire is to be removed prises the extension of the curved bar structure 69 which over hangs the drum and carries the guide/rolls 70. In addition, this extension also carries one or more arms 71 (only one being shown in the drawings, the others being broken away). Each arm 71 carries a rotatable member 72 which is provided with a plurality of fingers 7 3. Upon rotation of a member 72 the fingers pass through a cooperating slot 74 formed in the take-off drum 17 which is held stationary thereby. The member 72 prevents the removal of more than one coil of wire at a time andonly releases a coil as the wire assumes a position contiguous to a finger 73 and thus rotates the member 7 2. The uncoiling force in each succeeding coil of wire causes it to expand and engage the following finger to prevent. further rotation of the member 72.

, The wire passes from the take-off drum 17 through a guide ring 69' and is thence led over the rolls and 68 to the dieblock. It will thus be seen that this embodiment of the invention provides for either a tangential or axial take 0d of the wire.

In this embodiment of the invention when there is no take off or longitudinal movement of the wire, the reversing drum 51 rotates with thea'ccumulator 15. When there is a longitudinal movement of the wire, the action will be similar to that described in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the reversing drum 51, lagging behind the accumulator drum in accordance with the speed of longitudinal movement of the wire. The- Wire may thus be fed back to the die block as required irrespective of the speed at which it is collected upon the accumulator. It is Instance sitioned that the direction of movement of the wire is changed gradually. By this construction relatively heavy stock can be operated upon without the imposition of extraneous forces.

A roller 75 is mounted on the base 3 in a position to contact with the wire being drawn onto the drum 2. This roller 75 functions to prevent the tail end of the wire, when it comes through the die, from-flying around the drum and causing the coils of wire thereon to loosen. The roller 7 5 has sufficient inherent resiliency in it to yield for any variation in the wire diameter, to securely hold the wire to the drum.

Means is provided for automatically stopping the drawing drum when the tail end of the wire has passed through the die or in the event that the Wire'is broken. This means comprises the hook member 10 pivotally carried by. the lever 10 and a plurality of cooperating notches 4: in theupper face of the gear 4. The hook 10 normally rides upon the wire intermediate the die block and the drawing drum. When the tail end of the wire passes through the die block or the wire is broken, the hook 10 falls by gravity into engagement with one of the notches 4'. The rotation of the drum thus pulls the lever 10 to disengage the clutch 8 and stop the drum. The wire may then be removed, or as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig.1, the initial end of the wire may be fed through a smaller die and secured either to the drum or to the tail end of the wire for repetition of the drawing operation.

.the tail end of the wire passes beyond the roller 75. Thus any loosening of the coils of wire upon the drawing drum is prevented.

In this embodiment it will thus be seen that the wire moves onto the accumulator 15 in one direction and is advanced by the reversing' drum 51 to the take-ofi drum 17 from which the wire may be removed in a direction reversed to that at which it'moves onto the accumulator 15. It is furthermore to be noted that the rate of speed of removal of the wire is independent of, or'varies with, the speed at which the wire collects on the accumulator also, take off drum (.17) funcr tions in the capacity of a separate storage member or accumulator, free from the rotational limitation of drawing drum A third and difi'erent embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive. In this form of the invention the means fortaking off the material is positive- 1y driven from the same source of power that actuates the drawing-drum. Mechanism being interposed between the means for driving the drawing drum and the means for driving the take-0d means whereby a difierential movement of the take-01f means with respect to the drawing drum is obtained. In addition, in this embodiment of the invention rollers may be substituted for the drawing dies and such rollers may be'positively driven with respect to the drawing drum. This embodiment does not however lend itself to application to conventional drawing drums.

In this embodiment of the invention the drawing drum is mounted upon a horizontal rather than a vertical axis. The whole mechanismis carried by a heavy standard indicated generally by the reference character 201. This standard is provided at its upper end with a heavy bearing head 202. Journaled in the bearing head 202 of the standard is a hollow shaft 203 which has formed at carries the die structure 207. Mounted within the shaft 203 is a second hollow shaft 208. This shaft 208 carries the take-0E means 209. A. friction disc 210 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft 208.

The standard 201 has two legs 223. Three parallel shafts 215, 227 and 229 are rotatably supported within bearings carried by the legs 223 of the standard 201. The intermediate shaft 227 constitutes the power, shaft and is driven from the pulley X by any suitable source of power. Shafts 215 and 229 each carry a worm which worms mesh with the worm gears 205 and 206 respectively to drive the drawing drum and the die or roller carrying mechanism. The arrangement being such that the die or roller is driven in a direction opposite to that in which the drawing drum is rotated.

Coming now to the means for actuating the take-0H means 209, a bearing member 216 is carried by the shaft 208 adjacent the friction disc 210, a second bearing 217 projects from the standard 201. A shaft 212 is mounted in bearings 216 and 217 and has splined thereon the friction roller 211 and carries at one end a spiral gear 213. This spiral gear 213 isvaried with respect to the speed of movement of the drawing drum by positioning the friction roller 211 adjacent to or remote from the axis of the friction disc210. 'Means is provided for shifting the friction roller 211 longitudinally of the shaft 212, to secure such variations in speed between the drawing drum and take-off means. The means for shifting the roller 211, comprises a screw 218 also mounted in thebearings 216 and 217. This screw carries a nut 219 which nut is provided with an extension 220 which engages a groove 221 of the collar 222 secured to the friction roller 211. It will thus be seen that by rotating the screw 218 the position of the roller 211 with respect to the axis of'the friction disc can be controlled, to thereby obtain a' variation between the speed of movement of the drawing drum 204 and the take-off means 209.

The shafts 21.5 and 229 are driven from the power shaft 227 by a gear 226 carried on the drive shaft 227. j The gear 226 meshes with a gear 225 carried on the shaft 215 and with a gear 228 carried by the shaft 229. It is by this means that the driving drum and the die or roller carrying mechanism are caused to rotate in opposite directions. Each of the gears 225, 226 and 228 is loosely mounted on the associated shaft, and clutches 230, 231 and 232 are provided for locking them to the shafts. These clutches are adapted to be operated by the handles 233, 234 and 235 respectively. By this means it will therefore be seen that the drawing drum, the take-off means and the die or roller carrying mechanism are all positively driven and are all under control of the operator through the medium of the clutches provided.

Describing now the take-off mechanism employed in this embodiment: The take-off means 209 consists of an enlarged dome plate 238 of greater diameter than the accumulator portion of the drawing drum 204. A hollow curved arm 237 is carried by the dome plate 238. The free end of the wire is adapted to be threaded through the hollow arm 237 from which the wire is taken off axially of the drum. From the arm 237 the wire may be either led through the hollow shaft 208 or it may be guided back to the die plate through a curved guide tube 239. As above described the arm 237 and the dome plate 238 are positively rotated through the medium of the frictiondisc 210. The guide tube 239, however, is secured'to the die carrying mechanism. The end of the guide tube 239 adjacent the take-off means is supported by a bracket 240 which is rotatably mounted on the projection 241 extending from the dome plate 238.

The arrangement being such that the dome plate may have relative rotation with respect to the guide tube 239.

As a further feature of this embodiment of the invention a jacket 242 may be provided to-act as a guard for the material being attenuated and also for heating purposes. The jacket 242 is provided with a circumferentially slidable section 243 by which access to the interior of the jacket may be obtained. The jacket 242 is supported by the angle brackets 244 secured to and forming a part of the standard 201. In addition heat may be supplied in any suitable manner, such as tends to prevent the radiation of heat during the attenuation of the material. As above stated the jacket also functions as a guard to retain the material in the event of an accidental break. While thejacket has only been disclosed in connection with this embodiment, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of my invention to provide similar jackets in connection with the other embodiments. v

In Fig. 13 there is disclosed a removable die block 236 which is carried by the member 207. It will be understood that for successive drawing operations on the wire successively smaller dies maybe substituted for the die 236. It is also to be understood that suitable rolls may be substituted in place of the drawing dies. Such rolls are specifically disclosed at 250 and 251-in Fig; 14. ,The rolls 250 are carried by the member 207 and driven through the medium of the worm gear 206. The rolls 250 cooperate with the rolls 251 formed on the drawing drum. When these rolls are used the rod-like material is drawn through the rolls by the rotation of the drawing drum. The rolls 250 carried by the mem her 207 may either be held stationary by disengagingfthe clutch 232 or they maybe positively driven through the medium of the worm gear 206. It will be seen that in this embodiment of the invention the drawin drum may be rotated and the die held stationary, or the drum held stationary and the die it is accumulated.

The adaptation of rolls is an important feature of my invention and is not limited to this particular embodiment. It is evident. that rolls may be used in place ofthe drawing dies described in connection with the other embodiments ofby invention.

Rollingas at present practiced is a hazardous operation for there is no Way of placing the material under control. The men direct: ing the rod from one set of rolls to the next must then be very alert and sure of grabbing the rod end as it approaches them to avoid inury; but as the speed of the rod as it is at tenuated becomes very high, such a grab must be made at a faster rate than tlle eye can folreeaeee low. It is therefore customary to listen for the click of the rod tong as it strikes the preceding roll guide and after a quick count grab with the tongs at the place the rod should emerge and then lead the rod to the following set of rolls. If the rod is missed in this grab considerable damage and injury results.

With the embodiment here described, it is clear that the apparatus can be stopped at any time by merely manipulating the clutches provided. The-operator then has all the time necessary to lead the free, initial end through the rolls and clip it to the tail end of the rod or otherwise secure. the rod end. There is no danger to either the workman or the apparatus in this operation. Smaller sizes may be economically rolled because the cross sectional area of wire does not carry the weight of all the succeeding length of material as in common rolling mill practice.

The high speed of operation in theusual attenuating operations is necessitated for retention of heat in the material as it is exposed to tt-he cooling action of the air. With the apparatus here shown, as the structure is self-contained and enclosed there is no cooling action by the air and the material can be kept at the most desirable temperature. All conditions that are desirable to secure the best product are therefore under complete control at all times. e

Another important feature is the absence of strainupon the material that exists in the common practice at present. When drawn through rolls" intheusual manner. a tension on the material exists for thewhole length of g Y the material between the rolls and practically for the whole length of the material rolled because the material is irregularly attenuated. Consequently the quality of the stock and the degree of reduction is restricted by the strain so induced. With this embodiment no such strains are present for the material ,is laidon-the supporting accumulator drum and is positively taken 0E, and therefore stock, such as high carbon stock, not possible for use in-the ordinary operation, can be operated upon by the apparatus here shown.

Attention is again called to the fact that in tated about the drum" instead of rotating the drum. The great centrifugal force gener ated'by rotating a large body of material at p like form comprising, attenuating means, a

positively driven winding drum adjacent thereto,

same longitudinallyoff the drum by riding apositively actuated mechanism for engaging a co1l on the drum and lifting the along the materialas it is unwound froml the drum.

2. vari ab lei accumulator for material; comprising in combination a rotary support,

this embodiment the dies or rolls may be romeans for operating the support for winding material on the support and means for removing material from the support at a rate of speed varying With'respect to the speed at which the material is Wound on the support, said means for removing the material including means for reversing the direction of Winding of the material on the rotary support.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable accumulator, a rotatable member for removinggmaterial from said accumulator, and co-operating means carried by said accumulator and rotatable member for causing the latter to rotate relative to the accumulator.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable accumulator, a rotatable member for removing material from said accumulator, co-operating means carried by said accumulator and rotatable member for causing the latter to rotate relative to the accumulator, and means con-' trolled by the passage of the material on said removing member for varying said relative movement. a

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, an attenuating device, a rotatable drum disposed adjacent to said device, means for rotating the drum, a take-off device for receiving material from said drum, and means between said drum and take-ofi' device for reversing the direction in which the material is wound.

6. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising in combination, an attenuating device, means for pulling material through said attenuating dev ce and accumulating said materlal, take-oil? means for receiving the material from said accumulating means,

and means between said takeoff means and accumulating means for reversing the direction in which the inaterial is wound.

7. In a machine of-the class described, the combination of an accumulator drum mounted for rotation, means for rotating said accumulator drum, a second drum disposed in concentric relation to said accumulator drum and adapted to remove material from said accumulator drum, said second'drum being rotatable relatively to the accumulator drum,

co-operating means carried by said drumsfor causing them to rotate together, and means carried by saidsecond drum and adapted to be operated by material passing over the drums for causing a lag in the rotation of said second drum relative to the accumulator drum.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of an accumulatordrum mounted for rotation, means for rotating said drum, a second drum disposed in concentric relation with said accumulator drum, said drums being normally rotatable together, a rack and pinion connection between said drums, and

means carried by said second drum and adapted to rotate said pinion thereby to cause a reversal in the direction of rotation bf said second drum. I

I 9.- In a machine of the class described the combination ofv an accumulator drum mount-' ed for rotation, means for rotating said drum, a reversing dIHIIDCllSPOSQd in concentric relation to said accumulator drum, co-operating means carried by said drums for causing them to rotate together, means carried by said reversing drum and adapted to be operated by material passing over the drum to cause a lag in the rotation of said reversing drum, a take-off drum disposed in concentric relation to said reversing drum, and means for 8 preventing rotation of said take-ofi' drum.-

10. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a material accumulator, a take-off member disposed in position to re-. v

ceive material from the accumulator, and means rotatable in the direction of the axis of said member and operative to retain material on the take-oii' member until material previously taken oil has been removed'from close proximity to said'member. 1

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a material accumulator, a take-ofl member disposed in position to receive material from the accumulator, and a plurality of members rotatable in the direc-- ,tion of the axis of said member and operative to retain material on the take-off member until material previously taken off has been removed from close proximity to said mem- 1W .ber,'said members being operable by a change in direction of movement of the material to release said material. I

12. In a mechanism for attenuating material of rod-like form, the combination of a driven accumulator upon which the material collects, a positively actuated mechanism cooperating with the movement of said accumulator for removing the-material from ,the

accumulator in a direction reverse to the direction of movement and independent of the speed of movement of the material collecting on the accumulation 13. A device for attenuating rod-like ma- 1 terial comprising an accumulator drum-upon terial comprising an accumulator drum upon which the material collects, a second drumeoaxially disposed with respect to said accumulator drum, means intermediate said drums for positively advancing material collecting on said accumulator drum to said second drum and for reversing the direction of travel of the material so advanced.

15. In a device for attenuating rod-like material, a driven accumulator drum, a second drum coaxially disposed with respect to said accumulator drum, means intermediate said drums for positively advancing material from the accumulator drum to said second drum.

16. In a device for attenuating rod-like material, means for attenuating the material, a driven accumulator drum, upon which the attenuated material collects, a second drum coaxial with respect to said accumulator drum, mea'ns intermediate said drums for positively advancing the material collecting on said accumulator drum to said second drum and means for guiding the material from said second drum to said attenuating means, to permit successive attenuations of drum, means associated with said advancing means for causing the material to be advanced at varying rates of speed with respect to the speed of said accumulator drum. I

18. A device for attenuating rod-like material comprising means for attenuating the material, a driven accumulator drum uponv which the material collects, a stationary drum coaxially disposed with respect to said accumulator drum, means intermediate said driven accumulator drum and said stationary drum for feeding the material collecting upon said accumulator drum to said statio'nary drum. 7

19. An apparatus for attenuating rod-like material, comprising means for imparting an attenuating action to the material, means for collecting material upon a driven accumulator drum, means for taking off the material collecting on said accumulator drum at a speed varying with respect to the speed of movement of the material collecting on said accumulator drum, means for guiding the material taken ofi of said accumulator drum through means for imparting a successive attenuating action to thematerial and back to said accumulator drum whereby successive attenuating actions may be imparted to the material by employing a single accumulator drum.

20., An apparatus for attenuating rod-like material comprising multiple attenuating means for imparting successive attenuating actions to the material, a drawing drum disposed adjacent-said attenuating means, an accumulator connected to said drawing drum, means forpositively removing material from said accumulator at a speed varying with respect to the speed of movement of material collecting on said accumulator, and means for guiding the material taken off of said accumulator back through said attenuating means to said drawin drum, whereby successive attenuating actions may be imparted to the material.

21. An apparatus for imparting successive attenuating actions to rod-like material comprising multiple attenuating means, a drawing drum disposed adjacent to said multiple attenuating means, an accumulator rotata 1e with said drawing drum, means for positively removing material from said accumulator in a direction tangential thereto and at a speed varying with respect to the speed of movement of material collecting on said accumulator and means for guiding the material taken off of said accumulator back through said multiple attenuating means to.

said drawing drum whereby successive attenuating actions may be imparted to the material by employing only a single drawing drum.

22. Means for attenuating material of rodlike form comprising attenuating means, a positively driven drawing drum adjacent thereto, an accumulator connected to said drawing drum, a positively actuated mechanism for engaging the wire collecting on said accumulator to lift the same longitudinally off the accumulator at a speed varying with respect to the speed at which the material collects on the accumulator.

23. Means for attenuating material of rodlike form, comprisin attenuating means, a driven accumulator drum adjacent thereto, a positively actuated mechanism having movement relative to the movement of said accumulator drum adapted to lift the material collecting on the accumulator drum longitudinally off of the drum by riding along the material as it is unwound from the drum.

24. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing unit comprising a rotating block on which the wire is wound at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed 015 said block, and a delivery member, variably-rotatable independently of said block, .on which said wire is wound in the opposite direction to the winding on said block.

25. In apparatus of the class described, a wire drawing unit comprising a rotating block on which the wire is wound, a member, variably rotatable independently of said block for the tangential delivery of said wire from said unit, and means interposed between said block and said member for securing the winding of wire on said member in a direction opposite to its windin on said block.

26. "in apparatus the class described, a wire drawing unit comprising .a rotating block on h the wire is wound, a member, variably ro atable independently of said block for the tangential delivery of said wire from said unit, and means rotatable from one of said elements for securing the winding of wire on said member in a direction opposite to its winding on said block.

' aea aacc 2?. In apparatus of the class described, a rotating wire drawing block, in combination with a storage member variably rotatable independently of said block and substantially coaxial with said block, on which member the wire from said block is wound up in the opposite direction from its winding on said block.

28. In wire handling, the method which comprises winding wire' continuously on a capstan and simultaneously discharging wire from the'capstan and forming it into a loop andutilizing the action of the capstan to reversely wind the discharging wire into convolutions 29. In wire handling, the method which comprises winding wire continuouslyon a capstan and.simultaneouslydischarging wire therefrom to form a free loop which is caused by the action of the capstan to move about the axis of the capstan and eifect reverse winding of the wire as it is discharged from the capstan. 1

30. In the taking of wire from a capstan, the method which comprises utilizing a loop of the wire to serve, due to the stiiin'ess of the wire, as a means for efiecting reverse winding of the wire which has described a loop in passing from the capstan.

31. In wire handling, the method which comprises maintaining substantially a predetermined number of convolutions on a drawing capstan and taking the wire beyond said convolutions from the capstan and forming reverse convolutions.

- 32. In the handling of wire, the method which comprises causing a predetermined number of convolutions of wire to grip the capstan, and taking the wire as it is formed beyond said convolutions in a loop-like course and forming it into reverse convolutions about an axis substantially in alignment with the capstan-axis.

33. In handling wire, the method which comprises progressively forming convolutions on" a driven capstan and causing a limited number of said convolutions to grip the capstan suificiently to exert the necessary drawing action, and discharging the wire beyond the gripping convolutions and forming it into a reversely wound coil in alignment with the axis of the capstan.

34. In handling wire, the method which comprises progressively forming convolutions on a2 driven capstan and causing a limited number of said convolutions to grip the capstan sufliciently to exert the necessary drawing action, and discharging the wire beyond the gripplng convolutions and forming it into reverse convolutions about anaxis sub stantially in alignment with the axis of the capstan and maintaining the reverse convolutions as stationary.

35. The method of taking wire from capstan to die in a wire-drawing operation, which comprises reversely winding the wire as it is taken from the capstan and drawing a supply for the next die from the reversely Wound wire.

36. In handling wire, the method which comprises progressively forming convolutions on a driven capstan and causing a limited number of said convolutions to grip the capstan suflicientlytoexert the necessary drawing action, and discharging the wire beyond the gripping convolutions and formin g it into reverse convolutions about an axis substantially in alignment with the axis of the capstan and maintaining the reverse convolutions in the state of motion.

37. The method of taking wire from die to die in a wire drawing operation, which comprises progressively forming convolutions on a driven capstan and causing said convolutions to grip the capstan suificiently to exert the necessary drawing action through said die, and discharging the wire beyond the capstan and forming it into reverse convolutions and drawing a supply for the next die from the reversely wound wire.

38. The method of taking wire from a capstan to a die in a wire drawing operation which'comprises reversely winding the wire as it is taken from the capstan and drawing a supply for the die from the reversely wound wire and utilizing the action of the capstan for drawing wire to the die.

39. A multiple wire drawing machine comprising a capstan, a freely rotatable compensating storage member for receiving and storing wire from said capstan and a graduated series of dies, said capstan adapted to draw wire from one of said dies and store the same. on said member for variable delivery to the next succeeding die and to said capstan, whereby the wire is sequentially drawn from the largest to the smallest of said dies.

40, In wire handling mechanism, the combination of a wire drawing block, a separate wire storage drum adjacent the end of said drawing block arranged for relative movement therebetween and means traveling in a circumferential path around the block adapted to remove wire from the block to the drum independently of motion produced by said drawing block.

41. In wire handling mechanism, the com bination of a wire drawing block, a separate Wire storage drum adjacent the end 01 said drawing block and arranged for relative movement therebetween and adapted to receive wire drawn thereon, a die to which wire is looped from said storage drum, and

a movable member controlled by the tight-.

42. In wire drawing mechanism, the combination of a wire'drawing block, a separate wire storage drum adjacent the end of said drawing block arranged for relative movement therebetween and adapted to receive wire therefrom, a die to which wire is looped from said storage drum, and a fingered wheel controlled by the tightening of the wire looped from said storage drum to said die whereby the passage of the wire from the storage drum is regulated.

43. In wire handling mechanism, the combination of a/Wire drawing drum, a separate wire storage drum adjacent the end of said drawing drum arranged for relative movement therebetween and means traveling in a circumferential path around the drawing drum adapted to remove wire therefrom and to accumulate on said storage drum and supply wire to a succeeding operation independently of motion of said drawing drum.

44. A wire drawing unit comprising a power driven rotatable wire drawing capstan and a stationary accumulator in substantial end to end relation to said drawing capstan whereby wire coming from said capstan may be stored on said accumulator.

45. A wire drawing unit comprising a driven rotatable capstan and a compensatory storage member for receiving wire from said capstan and for variable delivery as aforesaid, said member comprising a drum freely rotatable independent of said capstan co-axial therewith and in end to end relation thereto, being of such contour as to permit the unobstructed passage of wire thereto.

47 A wire drawing unit comprising a power driven rotatable wire drawing capstan, and a storage drum freely rotatable independent of said capstan, co-axial therewith and in end to end relation thereto, said drum being of substantial equal diameter throughout permitting an unobstructed transfer of wire thereon from said capstan.

48. A wire drawing unit comprising a power driven wire'drawing capstan, a stationary accumulator in substantial end to end relation to said capstan whereby 'wire coming from said capstan may be stored on said accumulator, and a die to which wireextends from said accumulator for drawing on said capstan.

49. A wire drawing unit comprising a power driven wire drawing capstan, a die,

means for holding suflicient coils of wire in contact with said capstan to provide traction for drawing the wire through said die, and means for stopping the power driven capstan I eaaeee between said capstan and die'on wire extending between said members.

50. A wire drawing unit comprising a power driven wire drawing capstan and an independent freely rotatable storage member. constituting a substantial continuation of said capstan being so proportioned and related that convolutions of drawn wire in excess of those required for the necessary traction are transferrable to the said storage member substantially in the circumferential plane of the drawing drum whereby the transferred wire is freed from the rotarial limitations of said drawing capstan.

51. In a wire drawing unit the combination of a power driven rotatable capstan having a smaller diameter storage extension and a freely rotatable storage member constituting substantially a continuation of said first storage chamber.

52. In metal strip treating apparatus, the combination of a power driven rotatable drum for pulling said strip from said treating means, having a smaller diameter storage extension, and a freely rotatable storage member constituting substantially a continuation of said first storage chamber.

53. In metal strip attenuating apparatus, a combination of a power driven drawing capstan and a stationary storage drum constituting a substantial continuation of said capstan co-axial therewith whereby strip coming from said capstan may be stored on said storage drum so that while a portion of. the strip oncoming to said capstan is being attenuated, the portion on the storage drum is made available for further manipulation independently of the lineal speed produced by said drawing capstan. I

54. In metal strip treating apparatus, the combination of a power driven drawing capstan and a stationary storage drum constituting a substantial continuation of said capstan co-axial therewith whereby strip coming from said capstan may be stored on said storage drum so that while a portion of the strip oncoming to said capstan is being treated, the portion on the storage drum is made available for further manipulation independently of the lineal speed produced by said drawing capstan.

55. In metal strip treating apparatus, the combination of a metal treating means, a

v power driven drawing drum for drawing said pad said drawing drum and providing a supply 1 to said second attenuatingmeans at a lineal.

speed independent of the lineal speed produced by said drawing drum.

57. In wire drawing apparatus, the combination of'a die, a power driven drawing drum for drawing said strip through said die, a separate accumulator drum, power'driven as a result of tension on the wire, and a second die, saidaccumulator adapted for removing and accumulating said wire from said drawing drum andproviding a supply to said sec ond die at a lineal speed independent of the lineal speed produced by said drawing drum.

In testimony whereof heaifixes his signature.

MARTIN E. EVANS. 

